5. White Horse Tavern
The White Horse Tavern is one of New York City’s oldest bars. Opened in 1880, the tavern originally attracted longshoremen who worked at the Hudson River Piers. In the mid-twentieth century, it became a hotspot for musicians and writers of the Beat Generation like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.
Another Beatnik writer who frequented the tavern was Dylan Thomas. November 9, 1953, Thomas downed eighteen shots of whisky at the tavern, returned to his home at The Hotel Chelsea, and died the next day in St. Vincent’s Hospital. Legend says Thomas keeps coming back to The White Horse Tavern to sit and imbibe at his usual table.
